pitcher



` .,iuitrd gime @anni @Wire -L. nrrfronnn, or PiTcHERwLLE', ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 90,463, dated May 25, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT 1N HAY Alvi: MANUREfFoRKs.

The Schedule referred to in these Letten; Patent and making part o! the lame.

To all whom 'it 'mo/ i1 concern:

proved hay and manure-fork. l

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

' This invention relates to a new manner of connecting the tines to the handle of a manure and hay-fork,

for the purpose of producing a substantial fastening,

,so that the fork will be adapted for loading and transy porting loose hay and straw as securely as if the same were in bundles. Y

The invention consists chieliy in the application of a cross-bar with dovetailedmortises, adapted to receive the inverted V-shaped sheeenietal tines.

The invention consists also in a new manner of attaching the cross-head to the flattened back endsof the tines, by nieans'of screws, and by the ends of the bow, all as hereinafter more fully described.

A, in the drawing, represents the handle of my improved fork.` Y

The front or lower end of the handle isA bent down, and fitted under a cross-bar', B, and over a cross-head, C, it being notched on the upper side, -to receive the cross-bar, as shown. v A

The tines D D, of which two, four, six, or more can be used, are stamped or formedof sheet-metal, so as to have a cross-section similar to an inverted letter V,

to be hollow on the under side, and ridge-shaped lon top, as shown. A

The back endsof the tines are dattened, and are fastened to the under side of the cross-head by means of screws o c, two such screws being used for eachtine, as shown, with the exception of the t'wo outer tines,

which have but'one screw each, the ends of the bail vEll being the additional fastening.

The bail E is fastened to the handle -in suitable manner, and has its ends extend through the cross-head andthrongh Vthe tines, so that such ends will serve at once to fasten the tines and the bail.

The cross-bar B has itsv upper edge. provided with dovetail mortises, narrower on top, to receive the tines, as shown, said tines being inserted endwise into these mortises. Screws, d d, serve to fasten the tines tothe cross-bar.

This fork is at once strong and durable, and will not be apt to get out of repair.

If a tine should become loose by wear, it can readily tightened by means of the screws al.

The sheet-metal tines are cheaper than those formerly in use, and fully strong enough for ordinary wear.

Having thus described my invention,

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

A hay and manure-fork, consisting ofthe sheet-metal tines, tted over the cross-bar B and under the head G, and of .the handle A, fitted over tbe head C and unf der the bars B, substantially as herein shown and described, all arranged as specified. Y

' L. D. PITCHER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE J UsTUs, H. M. J UsTUs. 

